Across the nation, law enforcement and school officials are raising alarms about a popular game among students that they fear might lead to serious consequences. This game, known as “Senior Assassin,” is primarily played by high school seniors who engage in mock battles with water guns on school grounds.
The game involves students stalking each other and attempting to “eliminate” opponents by spraying them with water. The objective is to outlast all others and remain dry to claim victory. Often played in large groups, these water gun fights unfold on both school premises and private properties.
However, authorities caution that such activities can squander valuable resources and potentially lead to unintended dangers. The game, which requires players to hide and ambush others, has sparked concern among police departments. They warn that the antics of Senior Assassin could escalate into more serious situations.
The Lower Makefield Police Department in Yardley, Pennsylvania, highlighted the issue on their Facebook page, stating, “Every year, police departments receive emergency calls from worried residents reporting suspicious activities, only to find out they are linked to this game.” The department expressed concern that toy guns and water guns could be mistaken for real weapons, leading to fear and panic, and possibly resulting in hazardous misunderstandings.
In a similar vein, police have also issued warnings about other dangerous challenges, such as the ‘Door Kicking Challenge,’ emphasizing how easily a viral prank can shift “from funny to fatal.”
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Last year, an 18-year-old high school student in Jacksonville, Florida was shot by an off-duty Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) agent who mistook the student and two friends for potential intruders on his property. Fortunately, the student survived the incident, but police warned at the time that the game is “potentially deadly.”
After that incident, Florida officials called on parents to stop their children from playing the game.
The Fremont Police Department in California recently posted a similar warning on its Instagram account.
A child’s blue water gun floats in a pool, commonly used as a toy for water play. (Adobe Stock)
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“While the game involves only fake weapons, it has become a safety concern and can lead to high-risk patrol and traffic stops,” the department said. “Some students have chosen to use toy guns that look realistic to the public and to our officers, and the behavior associated with this game has caused public concern due to the belief that participants are carrying real weapons and acting suspiciously. This creates a dangerous situation and diverts emergency 9-1-1 and police resources, since officers take every report of gun violence and suspicious firearm use seriously.”
An instance of the game played by middle schoolers at Anza Trail School in a suburb of Tucson, Arizona earlier this week led to a police investigation, according to KOLD.
A teacher saw a student with a water gun, mistook it for a real gun, and called 911. Police contacted the boy’s parents, who told them where they could find him.
The Village of Bartlett in Illinois is warning residents about the increasing popularity of the dangerous “Senior Assassins” game. (The Village of Bartlett, Illinois via Facebook)
“The investigation revealed the juvenile had brought an Orbeez-style toy as part of an end-of-the-year prank known as Senior Assassin,” the Sahuarita Police Department reportedly said. “Additionally, officers located the toy gun and confirmed it was not an actual firearm and was not loaded with any sort of projectiles.”
“The Sahuarita Police Department takes these types of reports very seriously and truly appreciates the community for reporting suspicious activity.”
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